Engineering apparatus, control method of engineering apparatus, and program

ABSTRACT

An engineering apparatus ( 10 ) according to the present disclosure generates generating executable code, which causes target hardware ( 20 ) to operate, from a control application. The engineering apparatus ( 10 ) includes an algorithm converter ( 102 ) that converts control logic included in the control application into control logic code, a type management unit ( 103 ) that outputs a type definition code corresponding to a data block structure of data held by a function block included in the control application, an instance management unit ( 104 ) that outputs a memory allocation code that allocates an instance of the function block to memory, and a build controller ( 104 ) that generates the executable code based on the control logic code, the type definition code, and the memory allocation code. Executable code for execution by target hardware is debugged while the executable code is in the form of a control application before conversion to a high-level language.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2018-207644 filed Nov. 2, 2018, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an engineering apparatus, a controlmethod of an engineering apparatus, and a program.

BACKGROUND

A control system for controlling the production process and productionfacilities at a production site or the like has been developed. Inrecent years, control systems create added value at the production sitein many ways through various processes, such as predictive maintenancebased on data collection and analysis, real-time control at thesensor/actuator level, and the like.

To perform these processes, control systems have come to include avariety of devices, such as a distributed control system (DCS), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a general-purpose personalcomputer, a gateway with a computing function, an intelligentsensor/actuator, a cloud computer, a fog computer, and the like.

The devices targeted for control (target hardware) in the control systemare controlled by a control application.

The control application is normally created using an editor in adevelopment environment corresponding to the target hardware that is tobe controlled. The editor supports a programming language for developingthe control application. Examples include a ladder editor, a flowcharteditor, and a script editor.

The control application is normally converted with a compiler or thelike into executable code that can be directly executed by a processorof the target hardware. The executable code is stored in a memory insidethe target hardware. The compiler may be included in the developmentenvironment or on the target hardware. The target hardware uses aprocessor to interpret and execute the executable code stored in thememory.

The development environment for creating the control application isspecialized for the target hardware that is to be controlled, and thedevelopment environment often differs for each piece of target hardware.When the development environment is device dependent in this way, theoperator needs to be proficient in a variety of developmentenvironments. This may reduce the engineering efficiency.

To address such device dependency of the development environment, theuser program of the application needs to be made executable withoutdependence on the device, and an equivalent debugging function needs tobe provided for applications written in a plurality of descriptionlanguages. Patent literature (PTL) 1 discloses one method of addressingdevice dependency of the user program. This method converts adevice-dependent sequence instruction program (control application) intoa program written in a general-purpose high-level language. PTL 2discloses a method of dividing a device-dependent sequence instructionprogram (control application) into a plurality of blocks and converting,block by block, into a program written in a general-purpose high-levellanguage. In both PTL 1 and PTL 2, the program written in a high-levellanguage is compiled on the development environment to generateexecutable code. The target hardware receives and executes theexecutable code.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JPH7-295612A

PTL 2: JP2002-99312A

SUMMARY

An engineering apparatus according to an embodiment is an engineeringapparatus for generating executable code from a control application,created in a first programming language, for controlling targethardware. The executable code causes the target hardware to operate. Theengineering apparatus includes an algorithm converter configured toconvert control logic included in the control application into controllogic code expressed in a second programming language; a type managementunit configured to express a type definition code in the secondprogramming language and output the type definition code, the typedefinition code corresponding to a data block structure of data held bya function block included in the control application; an instancemanagement unit configured to express a memory allocation code in thesecond programming language and output the memory allocation code, thememory allocation code allocating an instance of the function blockincluded in the control application to memory in the target hardware;and a build controller configured to use at least one of a compiler or alinker for the target hardware to generate the executable code based onthe control logic code, the type definition code, and the memoryallocation code.

A control method according to an embodiment is a control method of anengineering apparatus for generating executable code from a controlapplication, created in a first programming language, for controllingtarget hardware, the executable code causing the target hardware tooperate. The control method includes converting control logic includedin the control application into control logic code expressed in a secondprogramming language; expressing a type definition code in the secondprogramming language and outputting the type definition code, the typedefinition code corresponding to a data block structure of data held bya function block included in the control application; expressing amemory allocation code in the second programming language and outputtingthe memory allocation code, the memory allocation code allocating aninstance of the function block included in the control application tomemory in the target hardware; and using at least one of a compiler or alinker for the target hardware to generate the executable code based onthe control logic code, the type definition code, and the memoryallocation code.

A program according to an embodiment is a program to control anengineering apparatus for generating executable code from a controlapplication, created in a first programming language, for controllingtarget hardware, the executable code causing the target hardware tooperate. The program causes the engineering apparatus to convert controllogic included in the control application into control logic codeexpressed in a second programming language; express a type definitioncode in the second programming language and output the type definitioncode, the type definition code corresponding to a data block structureof data held by a function block included in the control application;express a memory allocation code in the second programming language andoutput the memory allocation code, the memory allocation code allocatingan instance of the function block included in the control application tomemory in the target hardware; and use at least one of a compiler or alinker for the target hardware to generate the executable code based onthe control logic code, the type definition code, and the memoryallocation code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example configuration of a control system thatincludes an engineering apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example hardware configuration of an engineeringapparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates operations of an engineering apparatus according toan embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates example operations of the type management unit andthe like of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates example operations of the instance management unitand the like of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

PTL 1 and PTL 2 have the problem that the executable code for executionby the target hardware cannot be debugged while the executable code isstill in the form of the control application, before conversion to thehigh-level language.

The present disclosure aims to provide an engineering apparatus, acontrol method of an engineering apparatus, and a program that allowexecutable code for execution by target hardware to be debugged whilethe executable code is in the form of a control application beforeconversion to a high-level language.

An engineering apparatus according to an embodiment is an engineeringapparatus for generating executable code from a control application,created in a first programming language, for controlling targethardware. The executable code causes the target hardware to operate. Theengineering apparatus includes an algorithm converter configured toconvert control logic included in the control application into controllogic code expressed in a second programming language; a type managementunit configured to express a type definition code in the secondprogramming language and output the type definition code, the typedefinition code corresponding to a data block structure of data held bya function block included in the control application; an instancemanagement unit configured to express a memory allocation code in thesecond programming language and output the memory allocation code, thememory allocation code allocating an instance of the function blockincluded in the control application to memory in the target hardware;and a build controller configured to use a compiler/linker for thetarget hardware to generate the executable code based on the controllogic code, the type definition code, and the memory allocation code.This engineering apparatus allows executable code for execution bytarget hardware to be debugged while the executable code is in the formof a control application before conversion to a high-level language(second programming language). In greater detail, the engineeringapparatus separates the control logic and data from the controlapplication created with the first programming language and manages thecontrol logic and data. Hence, to debug the executable code generatedfrom the control logic code, the type definition code, and the memoryallocation code that are expressed in the second programming language,the control application before conversion to the second programminglanguage can be debugged.

In an engineering apparatus according to an embodiment, the buildcontroller may select the compiler/linker for the target hardware fromamong a plurality of compiler/linkers. The engineering apparatus cangenerate executable code corresponding to various types of targethardware by the build controller thus selecting the compiler/linker forthe target hardware from among a plurality of compiler/linkers.

An engineering apparatus according to an embodiment may further includea symbol analyzer configured to extract member information and sizeinformation of the data block structure from the executable code. Offsetpositions in the data block can be acquired by the symbol analyzer thusextracting the member information and size information of the data blockstructure.

An engineering apparatus according to an embodiment may further includean instance/type list database configured to store the data blockstructure, and the symbol analyzer may be configured to provide themember information and the size information to the data block structurestored in the instance/type list database. Offset positions in the datablock can be acquired by the symbol analyzer thus providing the memberinformation and size information.

In an engineering apparatus according to an embodiment, the buildcontroller may, when generating the executable code, be configured touse the compiler/linker to link a communication service program, acontrol service program, and a library that are precompiled for thetarget hardware. The communication service program may be configured totransmit and receive information to and from the engineering apparatuswhen the executable code is executed on the target hardware. The controlservice program may be configured to schedule execution of theexecutable code when the executable code is executed on the targethardware. By the communication service program, control service program,and library that are precompiled for the target hardware being linked inthis way to generate the executable code, existing target hardware canalso be caused to execute executable code that is transmittedafterwards.

In the engineering apparatus according to an embodiment, a communicationservice with a loading function may be implemented on the targethardware. The target hardware can download the executable code when thecommunication service with a loading function is implemented on thetarget hardware in this way.

A control method according to an embodiment is a control method of anengineering apparatus for generating executable code from a controlapplication, created in a first programming language, for controllingtarget hardware, the executable code causing the target hardware tooperate. The control method includes converting control logic includedin the control application into control logic code expressed in a secondprogramming language; expressing a type definition code in the secondprogramming language and outputting the type definition code, the typedefinition code corresponding to a data block structure of data held bya function block included in the control application; expressing amemory allocation code in the second programming language and outputtingthe memory allocation code, the memory allocation code allocating aninstance of the function block included in the control application tomemory in the target hardware; and using a compiler/linker for thetarget hardware to generate the executable code based on the controllogic code, the type definition code, and the memory allocation code.This control method of an engineering apparatus allows executable codefor execution by target hardware to be debugged while the executablecode is in the form of a control application before conversion to ahigh-level language (second programming language).

A program according to an embodiment is a program to control anengineering apparatus for generating executable code from a controlapplication, created in a first programming language, for controllingtarget hardware, the executable code causing the target hardware tooperate. The program causes the engineering apparatus to convert controllogic included in the control application into control logic codeexpressed in a second programming language; express a type definitioncode in the second programming language and output the type definitioncode, the type definition code corresponding to a data block structureof data held by a function block included in the control application;express a memory allocation code in the second programming language andoutput the memory allocation code, the memory allocation code allocatingan instance of the function block included in the control application tomemory in the target hardware; and use a compiler/linker for the targethardware to generate the executable code based on the control logiccode, the type definition code, and the memory allocation code. Thisprogram allows executable code for execution by target hardware to bedebugged while the executable code is in the form of a controlapplication before conversion to a high-level language (secondprogramming language).

The present disclosure provides an engineering apparatus, a controlmethod of an engineering apparatus, and a program that allow executablecode for execution by target hardware to be debugged while theexecutable code is in the form of a control application beforeconversion to a high-level language.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with referenceto the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example configuration of a control system 1 thatincludes an engineering apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. Thecontrol system 1 includes an engineering apparatus 10, target hardware20A, target hardware 20B, and target hardware 20C. Three pieces oftarget hardware 20A to 20C are depicted in FIG. 1, but any number, oneor more, of pieces of target hardware may be included. Subsequently, thetarget hardware 20A to 20C is collectively referred to as targethardware 20 when no distinction needs to be made.

The engineering apparatus 10 generates executable code directlyexecutable by the target hardware 20 from a control application, createdin a first programming language, for controlling the target hardware 20.

The first programming language may be any appropriate language, such asa graphical user interface (GUI) based programming language, atext-based programming language, or a script-based programming language.The first programming language is preferably one of the programminglanguages defined by IEC 61131-3, which is a PLC standard. IEC 61131-3defines programming languages such as ladder diagram, function blockdiagram, structured text, instruction list, and sequential functionchart.

The target hardware 20 is a device controlled by the executable codegenerated by the engineering apparatus 10. The target hardware 20regularly executes the executable code, which is downloaded from theengineering apparatus 10, as a task or thread. The target hardware 20may execute the executable code on an event-driven basis.

The target hardware 20 may be a variety of devices that have ageneral-purpose computing function. Examples of the target hardware 20include PLC, DCS, a temperature controller, a recorder, supervisorycontrol and data acquisition (SCADA), and virtual DCS/PLC.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the target hardware 20 includes a loader 21, amemory 22, and a controller 23.

The loader 21 downloads the executable code generated by the engineeringapparatus 10 from the engineering apparatus 10 and stores the downloadedexecutable code in the memory 22.

The memory 22 may include any storage apparatus, such as a hard diskdrive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), or the like. The memory 22 may, for example,function as a main storage apparatus, an auxiliary memory apparatus, ora cache memory. The memory 22 is not limited to being internal to thetarget hardware 20 and may be an external storage apparatus connectedthrough a digital input/output port or the like, such as a universalserial bus (USB).

The memory 22 stores the executable code downloaded from the engineeringapparatus 10 by the loader 21.

The controller 23 controls each component of the target hardware 20. Thecontroller 23 may be configured as a processor, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU).

The controller 23 interprets the executable code stored in the memory 22and executes the various processes.

A communication service with the loading function may be implemented onthe target hardware 20. The target hardware 20 can download theexecutable code generated by the engineering apparatus 10 from theengineering apparatus 10 using the loading function.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example hardware configuration of the engineeringapparatus 10 according to an embodiment.

The engineering apparatus 10 includes a memory 11, a display apparatus12, an input apparatus 13, a communication interface 14, and acontroller 15. The engineering apparatus 10 may, for example, be aserver, a general-purpose computer such as a desktop PC, a factorycomputer, an apparatus such as a PLC, a laptop computer, a tablet, orthe like.

The memory 11 may include any storage apparatus, such as an HDD, SSD,EEPROM, ROM, RAM, or the like. The memory 11 may, for example, functionas a main storage apparatus, an auxiliary memory apparatus, or a cachememory. The memory 11 is not limited to being internal to theengineering apparatus 10 and may be an external storage apparatusconnected through a digital input/output port or the like, such as USB.The memory 11 stores various information and programs necessary foroperation of the engineering apparatus 10.

The display apparatus 12 displays various information. The displayapparatus 12 may, for example, be a liquid crystal display. The displayapparatus 12 may be implemented in various forms, such as a head-mounteddisplay, a glasses-mounted display, or a watch-mounted display.

The input apparatus 13 receives input from the user to the engineeringapparatus 10. The input apparatus 13 is, for example, a keyboard and/ora mouse. The input apparatus 13 may be a microphone for inputting audioinformation, a camera for inputting image information, or the like. Theinput apparatus 13 may be a touch panel. In this case, the inputapparatus 13 may also function as the display apparatus 12.

The communication interface 14 communicates with the target hardware 20of FIG. 1 by wired or wireless communication.

The controller 15 controls each component of the engineering apparatus10. The controller 15 may, for example, be configured by a processorsuch as a CPU. The programs executed by the processor may, for example,be stored in a memory included in the controller 15 or may be stored inthe memory 11.

Next, operations of the engineering apparatus 10 are described withreference to the control system 1 illustrated in FIG. 3. The controlsystem 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the control system 1illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the inside of the engineeringapparatus 10 is represented in functional terms.

The engineering apparatus 10 includes the following function blocks: aneditor user interface (UI) 101, an algorithm converter 102, a typemanagement unit 103, an instance management unit 104, a build controller106, a symbol analyzer 112, and a debugging UI 113. The functions of theeditor UI 101, algorithm converter 102, type management unit 103,instance management unit 104, build controller 106, symbol analyzer 112,and debugging UI 113 may be executed by the controller 15 and the likeillustrated in FIG. 2.

As data storable in the memory 11 illustrated in FIG. 2, the engineeringapparatus 10 includes an instance/type list database (DB) 105, acommunication service program 107, a control service program 108, alibrary 109, and a compiler/linker group 110.

The editor UI 101 is a language editor for developing a controlapplication for controlling the target hardware 20. The editor UI 101allows the control application to be created in the above-describedfirst programming language.

The algorithm converter 102 converts the control logic included in thecontrol application created with the editor UI 101 into control logiccode 151 expressed in a second programming language. The secondprogramming language may be any programming language, such as ageneral-purpose high-level language. The second programming languagemay, for example, be C, C++, or the like.

The type management unit 103 stores and manages data, held by thefunction blocks included in the control application created with theeditor UI 101, in the instance/type list DB 105 by data block. The typemanagement unit 103 expresses a type definition code 152, correspondingto the data block structure of the data held by the function blocksincluded in the control application, in the second programming languageand outputs the type definition code 152.

The instance management unit 104 stores and manages a list of functionblock instances, included in the control application created with theeditor UI 101, in the instance/type list DB 105. The instance managementunit 104 outputs a memory allocation code 153 expressed in the secondprogramming language. The memory allocation code 153 indicates theactual position when allocating a function block instance included inthe control application to the memory 22 of the target hardware 20.

The build controller 106 compiles the control logic code 151, the typedefinition code 152, and the memory allocation code 153 expressed in thesecond programming language to generate executable code 154 (any of theexecutable code 154A to 154C) corresponding to the target hardware 20.

The executable code 154A is directly executable by the target hardware20A. The executable code 154B is directly executable by the targethardware 20B. The executable code 154C is directly executable by thetarget hardware 20C. Subsequently, the executable code 154A to 154C iscollectively referred to as executable code 154 when no distinctionneeds to be made.

The compiler/linker group 110 stores a plurality of compiler/linkers111A to 111C. In the example in FIG. 3, the compiler/linker group 110stores three compiler/linkers 111A to 111C. The number ofcompiler/linkers stored by the compiler/linker group 110 may, however,be any number one or greater. Subsequently, the compiler/linkers 111A to111C are collectively referred to as the compiler/linker 111 when nodistinction needs to be made.

The compiler/linker 111 may be a general-purpose compiler/linker. Thecompiler/linker 111A is a general-purpose compiler/linker for the targethardware 20A. The compiler/linker 111B is a general-purposecompiler/linker for the target hardware 20B. The compiler/linker 111C isa general-purpose compiler/linker for the target hardware 20C.

When the control logic code 151, type definition code 152, and memoryallocation code 153 are to be compiled, the build controller 106 selectsa compiler/linker 111 corresponding to the applicable target hardware 20from among the plurality of compiler/linkers 111A to 111C stored in thecompiler/linker group 110 and compiles the code.

For example, to generate the executable code 154A for the targethardware 20A, the build controller 106 uses the compiler/linker 111A tocompile the control logic code 151, type definition code 152, and memoryallocation code 153.

Since the build controller 106 thus selects the compiler/linker 111corresponding to the target hardware 20 from among the plurality ofcompiler/linkers 111A to 111C, the engineering apparatus 10 can generateexecutable code corresponding to various types of target hardware 20.

When using the compiler/linker 111 to compile the control logic code151, type definition code 152, and memory allocation code 153, the buildcontroller 106 links the communication service program 107, the controlservice program 108, and the library 109.

The communication service program 107, control service program 108, andlibrary 109 are precompiled for the applicable target hardware 20. Thecommunication service program 107, control service program 108, andlibrary 109 may be installed on the target hardware 20 in advance asfirmware of the target hardware 20.

The communication service program 107 is a program for the targethardware 20 to transmit and receive information to and from theengineering apparatus 10 when the executable code 154 is executed on thetarget hardware 20.

The control service program 108 is a program for scheduling execution ofthe executable code 154 by the target hardware 20 when the executablecode 154 is executed on the target hardware 20.

The library 109 includes various libraries prepared in advance.

The build controller 106 thus uses the selected compiler/linker 111 tocompile the control logic code 151, type definition code 152, and memoryallocation code 153 and link the communication service program 107,control service program 108, and library 109, thereby generating theexecutable code 154. The build controller 106 may execute a static linkto link the communication service program 107, control service program108, and library 109 in the engineering apparatus 10 or may execute adynamic link to link the communication service program 107, controlservice program 108, and library 109 installed in advance on the targethardware 20.

By the communication service program 107, control service program 108,and library 109 being linked in this way to generate the executable code154, the engineering apparatus 10 can cause existing target hardware 20in the control system 1 to execute executable code 154 transmittedafterwards.

Furthermore, by the communication service program 107, control serviceprogram 108, and library 109 being linked to generate the executablecode 154, the engineering apparatus 10 can update the target hardware 20by causing the target hardware 20 to execute updated executable code154, without needing to update the firmware of the target hardware 20.The engineering apparatus 10 can also subsequently add an additionalfunction, such as a user customized function, to existing targethardware 20.

The symbol analyzer 112 extracts member information and size informationof the data block structure stored in the instance/type list DB 105 fromthe executable code 154. The symbol analyzer 112 provides the extractedmember information and size information to the data block structurestored in the instance/type list DB 105.

The communication interface 14 corresponds to the communicationinterface 14 in FIG. 2. The executable code 154 is downloaded onto thetarget hardware 20 via the communication interface 14. The communicationservice program 107 included in the executable code 154 downloaded ontothe target hardware 20 can communicate with the engineering apparatus 10via the communication interface 14. The communication service program107 can, for example, communicate with the engineering apparatus 10 fordebugging.

The debugging UI 113 refers to the instance/type list DB 105 to identifythe address position, in the memory 22 of the target hardware 20, of adata block managed by the instance/type list DB 105.

The debugging UI 113 can communicate with the communication serviceprogram 107, included in the executable code 154 downloaded onto thetarget hardware 20, to monitor the data at the identified addressposition. The debugging UI 113 can monitor the data at the identifiedaddress position on each of the pieces of target hardware 20A to 20C.The debugging UI 113 can also communicate with the communication serviceprogram 107, included in the executable code 154 downloaded onto thetarget hardware 20, to change the data at the identified addressposition. The debugging UI 113 can change the data at the identifiedaddress position on each of the pieces of target hardware 20A to 20C.

FIG. 3 illustrates the debugging UI 113 as a function block independentfrom the editor UI 101, but the editor UI 101 may also function as thedebugging UI 113.

Next, operations of the engineering apparatus 10 are described ingreater detail with concrete examples.

A control application created using the editor UI 101 is created inunits of function blocks or the like for each function. The controlapplication is configured overall by the combination of the functionblocks. The function blocks include data, such as local variables,input/output variables, and the like, and control programs.

The overall control application operates by the function blocks combinedin this way being executed on the target hardware 20.

The engineering apparatus 10 separates and manages control algorithmsincluded in the function blocks and data used by the control algorithms.

Management of the data that the engineering apparatus 10 uses with thecontrol algorithms is described with reference to FIG. 4.

Two function blocks are included in the control application in theexample in FIG. 4: function block A and function block B.

The type management unit 103 analyzes function block A and functionblock B and extracts data used in function block A and function block B.In the example in FIG. 4, the type management unit 103 extracts threepieces of data from function block A, “data 1”, “data 2”, and “data 3”.The type management unit 103 extracts four pieces of data from functionblock B, “input 1”, “output 1”, “data 1”, and “data 2”.

The type management unit 103 does not determine the size necessary onthe target for each data type at the stage when the data is extractedfrom function block A and function block B. This is because each pieceof data might have a complicated type, such as a structure. Anotherreason is that data even of the same type may have a different size,depending on the architecture of the target hardware 20.

The type management unit 103 expresses the type definition code 152corresponding to the extracted data block structure in the secondprogramming language. The type definition code 152 may be expressed as astructural data structure. The structural data structure may, forexample, be a class, struct, or the like.

The type definition code 152 is compiled with the compiler/linker 111corresponding to the target hardware 20, thereby generating theexecutable code 154.

From the executable code 154, the symbol analyzer 112 extracts the sizeand offset positions of the members having the types of the typedefinition code 152.

The symbol analyzer 112 provides the extracted information to the datablock structure managed by the type management unit 103 and stored inthe instance/type list DB 105. FIG. 4 illustrates offset positions 201provided to the data (data1, data2, data3) extracted from function blockA. FIG. 4 also illustrates offset positions 202 provided to the data(input1, output 1, data1, data2) extracted from function block B.

As a result of information such as the offset position extracted by thesymbol analyzer 112 thus being provided to the data block structurestored in the instance/type list DB 105, the engineering apparatus 10can acquire the offset position of each piece of data in the data block.

Next, instance management by which the engineering apparatus 10allocates the data blocks corresponding to the function blocks to thememory 22 of the target hardware 20 is described with reference to FIG.5.

In the example in FIG. 5, the control application created by the editorUI 101 includes four function blocks, i.e. function blocks A to D.

The instance management unit 104 analyzes the call stack of the functionblocks included in the control application created by the editor UI 101to create list data 302 of function block instances.

At this point, the size of each function block instance is undetermined.The instance management unit 104 therefore does not map the functionblock instances to the memory 22 of the target hardware 20.

Instead of mapping the function block instances, the instance managementunit 104 outputs an instance list as the memory allocation code 153. Theinstance list is list information, corresponding to each function blockinstance ID, of the size of each function block instance determinedafter compilation. The memory allocation code 153 outputted by theinstance management unit 104 includes a pointer to an instance addresstable 303.

The actual addresses of the functional block instances in the memory 22of the target hardware 20 need to be stored in the instance addresstable 303. The process to store the addresses of the function blockinstances in the instance address table 303 is executed by the controlservice program 108 downloaded onto the target hardware 20.

When execution of the executable code 154 on the target hardware 20begins, the control service program 108 refers to the instance listincluded in the memory allocation code 153 and sets aside a memory areacorresponding in size to each function block instance in the memory 22.

The control service program 108 stores the address of the memory areaset aside in the memory 22 for each function block instance in theinstance address table 303.

The debugging UI 113 illustrated in FIG. 3 transmits the ID of thefunction block instance to which the data to be debugged belongs and theoffset position from the top address of the function block instance viathe communication interface 14 to the communication service program 107downloaded onto the target hardware 20.

The communication service program 107 refers to the memory 22 to accessthe data within the function block instance corresponding to thereceived ID.

In this way, the debugging UI 113 of the engineering apparatus 10 canachieve a debugging function, such as data monitoring or changing ofdata values, for a specific function block instance.

The engineering apparatus 10 according to the above embodiment allowsexecutable code for execution by the target hardware 20 to be debuggedwhile the executable code is in the form of the control applicationbefore conversion to a high-level language (second programminglanguage). The engineering apparatus 10 specifically operates asfollows. The algorithm converter 102 converts the control logic includedin a control application created in a first programming language intocontrol logic code expressed in a second programming language. The typemanagement unit 103 expresses a type definition code, corresponding tothe data block structure of data held by function blocks included in thecontrol application, in the second programming language and outputs thetype definition code. The instance management unit 104 expresses amemory allocation code, which allocates an instance of the functionblock included in the control application to memory in the targethardware 20, in the second programming language and outputs the memoryallocation code. The build controller 106 then uses the compiler/linker111 for the target hardware 20 to generate the executable code based onthe control logic code, the type definition code, and the memoryallocation code. In this way, the engineering apparatus 10 separates thecontrol logic and data from the control application created with thefirst programming language and manages the control logic and data.Hence, to debug the executable code generated from the control logiccode, the type definition code, and the memory allocation code that areexpressed in the second programming language, the control applicationbefore conversion to the second programming language can be debugged.

It will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that thepresent disclosure may be implemented in certain ways other than theabove embodiments without departing from the spirit or essentialfeatures thereof. Accordingly, the above explanation merely providesexamples that are in no way limiting. The scope of the presentdisclosure is to be defined by the appended claims, not by the aboveexplanation. Among all changes, various changes that are within therange of equivalents are considered to be included therein.

For example, the arrangement, number, and the like of theabove-described components are not limited to the above explanation orthe drawings. The arrangement, number, and the like of each componentmay be selected freely as long as the functions of the component can beachieved.

Furthermore, while the present disclosure has been described focusing onapparatuses, the present disclosure may also be embodied as a methodincluding steps executed by the components of an apparatus, as a methodexecuted by a processor provided in an apparatus, as a program, or as arecording medium on which a program is recorded. Such embodiments arealso to be understood as included in the scope of the presentdisclosure.

1. An engineering apparatus for generating executable code from acontrol application, created in a first programming language, forcontrolling target hardware, the executable code causing the targethardware to operate, the engineering apparatus comprising: an algorithmconverter configured to convert control logic included in the controlapplication into control logic code expressed in a second programminglanguage; a type management unit configured to express a type definitioncode in the second programming language and output the type definitioncode, the type definition code corresponding to a data block structureof data held by a function block included in the control application; aninstance management unit configured to express a memory allocation codein the second programming language and output the memory allocationcode, the memory allocation code allocating an instance of the functionblock included in the control application to memory in the targethardware; and a build controller configured to use at least one of acompiler or a linker for the target hardware to generate the executablecode based on the control logic code, the type definition code, and thememory allocation code.
 2. The engineering apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe build controller is configured to select the compiler/linker for thetarget hardware from among a plurality of compiler/linkers.
 3. Theengineering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a symbol analyzerconfigured to extract member information and size information of thedata block structure from the executable code.
 4. The engineeringapparatus of claim 3, further comprising: an instance/type list databaseconfigured to store the data block structure; wherein the symbolanalyzer is configured to provide the member information and the sizeinformation to the data block structure stored in the instance/type listdatabase.
 5. The engineering apparatus of claim 1, wherein whengenerating the executable code, the build controller is configured touse the compiler/linker to link a communication service program, acontrol service program, and a library that are precompiled for thetarget hardware; wherein the communication service program is configuredto transmit and receive information to and from the engineeringapparatus when the executable code is executed on the target hardware;and wherein the control service program is configured to scheduleexecution of the executable code when the executable code is executed onthe target hardware.
 6. The engineering apparatus of claim 5, wherein acommunication service with a loading function is implemented on thetarget hardware.
 7. A control method of an engineering apparatus forgenerating executable code from a control application, created in afirst programming language, for controlling target hardware, theexecutable code causing the target hardware to operate, the controlmethod comprising: converting control logic included in the controlapplication into control logic code expressed in a second programminglanguage; expressing a type definition code in the second programminglanguage and outputting the type definition code, the type definitioncode corresponding to a data block structure of data held by a functionblock included in the control application; expressing a memoryallocation code in the second programming language and outputting thememory allocation code, the memory allocation code allocating aninstance of the function block included in the control application tomemory in the target hardware; and using at least one of a compiler or alinker for the target hardware to generate the executable code based onthe control logic code, the type definition code, and the memoryallocation code.
 8. A program to control an engineering apparatus forgenerating executable code from a control application, created in afirst programming language, for controlling target hardware, theexecutable code causing the target hardware to operate, the programcausing the engineering apparatus to: convert control logic included inthe control application into control logic code expressed in a secondprogramming language; express a type definition code in the secondprogramming language and output the type definition code, the typedefinition code corresponding to a data block structure of data held bya function block included in the control application; express a memoryallocation code in the second programming language and output the memoryallocation code, the memory allocation code allocating an instance ofthe function block included in the control application to memory in thetarget hardware; and use at least one of a compiler or a linker for thetarget hardware to generate the executable code based on the controllogic code, the type definition code, and the memory allocation code.